As we look ahead to the year ahead, retrofit trends in Ireland for 2026 are starting to take shape. More homeowners are thinking about how their homes perform day to day. Instead of quick fixes, the focus is shifting towards comfort, lower energy use and long-term value.

Over the past year, homeowners have changed how they approach retrofitting. Instead of quick fixes, many are asking better questions, planning earlier and thinking about how today’s decisions will affect their home in years to come.

Here are five retrofit trends we expect to shape Irish homes in 2026, based on real conversations and projects on the ground.

A strong fabric-first approach continues to lead the way.

Before adding new systems or technology, homeowners are focusing on the core elements that make a home comfortable day to day, such as insulation, airtightness and ventilation.

When these basics are done well, homes stay warmer for longer. Heating systems work more efficiently, and energy bills become more manageable. Just as importantly, these upgrades do not change how you live in your home. They simply make it feel better.

Not everyone is installing a heat pump straight away, and that is okay.

What we are seeing more often is homeowners preparing their homes so that a heat pump can be added later without difficulty. This might include improving insulation levels, upgrading radiators or underfloor heating, and ensuring the right ventilation is in place.

Because of this, planning ahead reduces disruption later on. It also spreads costs over time, which feels far more realistic for many households.

In practice, technology does not need to be complicated to be useful.

In 2026, more homeowners are using smart heating controls and basic energy monitoring tools to understand how their home performs. These systems help people heat the rooms they use most, avoid waste and spot patterns in energy use over time.

When combined with good insulation and efficient heating, small adjustments can lead to meaningful savings without adding stress or complexity.

Perhaps the biggest shift we are seeing is how people plan.

Instead of tackling upgrades one by one, more homeowners are asking for a clear roadmap. They want to understand what should be done first, what can wait and how different measures work together.

For this reason, a whole-home plan helps ensure money is spent wisely and upgrades are future-proofed. It also gives homeowners confidence, because they know there is a clear path forward rather than a series of disconnected decisions.

These retrofit trends align closely with Ireland’s national retrofit programme, supported by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).